-----Original Message----- From: Bob Adams <RAdams@xxxxxxxxxx> Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 16:25:10 To:dave@xxxxxxxxxx Subject: on the reality of out-sourcing Dave, I have been reading the various messages outsourcing work to India. I outsource. A few points. - I have been responsible for eight websites over the last seven years. I've worked with several design/programming shops in the process. For the last couple years, I've stuck with one outfit I really like that happens to be in Bangalore. - Yes, the time differential (10 and a half hours) can be a pain in the neck, but these people (Smart Webby at http://www.smartwebby.com) are hard-working, honest, very responsive and responsible. - They are also far less expensive than any American firm I've ever dealt with. For those interested, the site can be seen at http://www.futurebrief.com. I knew what I wanted, so the entire site was created in four days. The total cost was $380, including the Flash, newsletter subscription setup and so forth. - Needless to say, I saved a great deal of money using Smart Webby. Where did that money go? I use it to pay honorariums to people contributing original essays to our Commentary section at the site. So far, these are Americans. - Result? Our budget goes almost entirely to Americans, just different Americans than it would have a few years ago. There are pluses and minuses to outsourcing. You can have a negative or a positive experience. In short, it's no different than working with any vendor. I recognize the kind of work I paid for is nothing terribly complex or massive in scope. Nonetheless, it is an example of outsourcing and it is a lesson to people like me who may choose to outsource bigger and more complex tasks in the future as a result of good experiences like this. In case anyone should wonder if I even asked an American firm for a bid on the Future Brief site, the answer is yes. I still have their proposal. They offered to do it for $9750. I do sympathize with those whose jobs have been lost or threatened here in the US due to outsourcing, but I have a budget and a responsibility to spend it as effectively as possible. Like everyone else, I do my best. Bob Adams ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as roessler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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Dave, I have been reading the various messages outsourcing work to India. I outsource. A few points. - I have been responsible for eight websites over the last seven years. I've worked with several design/programming shops in the process. For the last couple years, I've stuck with one outfit I really like that happens to be in Bangalore. - Yes, the time differential (10 and a half hours) can be a pain in the neck, but these people (Smart Webby at http://www.smartwebby.com) are hard-working, honest, very responsive and responsible. - They are also far less expensive than any American firm I've ever dealt with. For those interested, the site can be seen at http://www.futurebrief.com. I knew what I wanted, so the entire site was created in four days. The total cost was $380, including the Flash, newsletter subscription setup and so forth. - Needless to say, I saved a great deal of money using Smart Webby. Where did that money go? I use it to pay honorariums to people contributing original essays to our Commentary section at the site. So far, these are Americans. - Result? Our budget goes almost entirely to Americans, just different Americans than it would have a few years ago. There are pluses and minuses to outsourcing. You can have a negative or a positive experience. In short, it's no different than working with any vendor. I recognize the kind of work I paid for is nothing terribly complex or massive in scope. Nonetheless, it is an example of outsourcing and it is a lesson to people like me who may choose to outsource bigger and more complex tasks in the future as a result of good experiences like this. In case anyone should wonder if I even asked an American firm for a bid on the Future Brief site, the answer is yes. I still have their proposal. They offered to do it for $9750. I do sympathize with those whose jobs have been lost or threatened here in the US due to outsourcing, but I have a budget and a responsibility to spend it as effectively as possible. Like everyone else, I do my best. Bob Adams You are subscribed as roessler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/ |